Folklords #4 Revisits Once Upon a Time
Folklords is a series that has been storming its way through classic fairytales and twisting them at each and every turn. Now it is time to address the whole concept of ‘once upon a time’ in Folklords #4.
Ansel has set out on a quest. That is pretty normal for the kids in his village. The difference for him is that the quest he’s chosen is forbidden…but it compels him beyond the point of caring. So he’s determined to find the truth of his visions, regardless of the danger or the cost.
This quest has been a revelation, both literally and figuratively. Thus far, the outcome and journey have not been what Ansel expected. Or the readers, for that matter. But that just makes it all the more interesting.
Writing
Matt Kindt has laid out a fascinating story throughout Folklords. That being said, Folklords #4 is arguably the most interesting series. It blends so many elements into something intriguing and thought-provoking.
Honestly, so many elements are included in this one issue, both in terms of visuals and writing. That makes it an issue worth reading several times, as you’re likely to pick up something new each time around. I know that it was the case for me.
Where the last few issues tackled one fairytale theme or specific story, it felt more like the fourth issue was trying to get to the core of the legends themselves. It’s a fascinating take that will make you stop and think.
As with the previous issues, Folklords #4 has a very strong visual element. I mean that much of the story is told through the artwork itself. It shows how well this creative team worked together to weave so much together.
Art
Folklords #4 features some stunning and strikingly complex artwork. Given everything I said above, that probably isn’t too much of a surprise. It is, however, still quite impressive. The whole issue is a feast for the eyes, with plenty of little details to be noticed.
There’s one set of scenes in particular that is noteworthy. Each one only lasts between a panel and a page, but the variety and subtlety are quite impressive. As is how easy it is to identify the influences – despite all of the changes thrown into the mix.
Matt Smith was the lead artist for this project, so you can thank him for the inclusion of all those fine details and so much more. His portrayal of Ugly’s story, in particular, was well done, but perhaps not for the reasons you might expect.
Chris O’Halloran is the colorist, and he also did a phenomenal job. His use of colors sets the tone, evoking emotions and a sense of time. It’s through the color palette, more than anything, that you can immediately tell that this is a different world.
Finally, Jim Campbell was the letterer, and you’ll not be surprised to hear his work was brilliant. I wasn’t surprised, at any rate. There was perhaps more text in this issue, and he did an excellent job laying out the story for us readers.
Conclusion
Folklords #4 continues the trend of twisting and warping fairytales. Yet it’s still a surprising read that merges well with the plot’s core. This is arguably the most thought-provoking issue of the series thus far, and that will certainly make it memorable.
It’s hard to believe that this series has only one issue left. Yet at the same time, that feels right. We’ve come such a long way in such a short time, and I do not doubt that Ansel’s quest will result in knowledge for all.
This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.
Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat’s Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Quirky Cats Comics 
Leave a comment